Automatic timing device



July 10, 1951 w, RATH AUTOMATIC TIMING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 21, 1949 F/N/SH LINE 52C Mu wk INVENTOR.

WA L T E R QAT H July 10, 1951 w. RATH AUTOMATIC TIMING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 21, 1949 Q34. a Q

SOLENOID R ELAY SOLENOID SOLENOID 55 I JNVENTOR. WA LTE R RAT'H P 5- W m; A'H-QRNET July 10, 1951 Filed Oct. 21, 1949 Fig. 8

W. RATH AUTOMATIC TIMING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 AUTOMATiC RACE TIME ZOMZN, Q 0mm 5% 4.2 45SEC l/u/lmmnhn Iuuhmhmhw *IOO TEM E MARK ggff JIVVENTOR. Manir ester, Vt. By RATfi wee H-aw-WL 1%. @MMLQwELQ 726 July 10, 1951 w. RATH AUTOMATIC TIMING DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001:. 21, 1949 5L. h PMWAW E 1 IN V EN 2" OR.

WA LTE Q QATH BY July 10, 1951 I w, RATH AUTOMATIC TIMING DEVICE '5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 21, 1949 INVENTOR. WA LTER RATH B Flo- M '5.

Patented July 10, 1 951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE-- AUTOMATIC TIMING DEVICE Walter Bath, Dorset vt. Application October 21, 1949, Serial No. 122,675

and provides in its preferred form 'an appa-' ratus which automatically measures the time elapsed between the passage by a person of a starting line and his passage of a'finish line.

The apparatus may be equipped to furnisha printed time record to the person using it.

The timing device basically comprises two'stations connected through an electric circuit. starting station is equipped with a passage responsive means which may assume a wide variety of forms. It may be a contact cable, a swing bar moved by the racer, a photo-electric device whose light beam is broken by the racer;

orany other kind of device adapted to actuate, usually through electric means, a timing means which for reasons of convenience, will hereinafter be referred to as a clock, it being understood that the timing means may also assume a variety of forms. It may be a spring-motor operated clock of conventional construction, an electric clock which in essence is a constant speed motor or may be any other form of known device for determining lapse of time."-

The finish line station is also provided with a passage responsive means which operates to stop theclock so that it can be read, or causes a time mark to be made on a record from which the" elapsed time is then ascertained.

Conventional timing devices usually require a least one operator for attending to the numerous details, such as starting the racer, resetting of the timer clock, removing of the time record, if one is made, or other details which ordinarily should not be attended to by the racer.

The present invention provides a timing apparatus which is particularly designed for use by the racerhimself, all operations being automatic or capable of being performed by an average untrained person using the device.

The present invention is illustrated by application to a timing device specifically designed for skiing races, it being understood that, with only minor modifications of its passage responsive means, it can be used in other kinds of races,

such as track races, boat races, swimming races The device is preferably 10 Claims. (Cl. 161-18) The device is so constructed as to prevent use by a second person while the first person is still on the course. For this purpose blocking means are provided at the st:;rting line station which are automatically rendered effective by passage by the racer of the starting line station. The blocking remains in effect until the racer passes the finish line. Preferably the unblocking opera-- tion is coupled with the issuance to the racer of a printed time record of his race, whereafter the device is available for reuse.

In order to. advise perspective users of the device of its present availability or non-availmay simply indicate conditions of availability or non-availability, but in the case of a coin operated device may indicate three-distinct conditions. There is firstly the condition of availability of use, which jmeans that a perspective user may insert a coin into the device. Insertion of the coin automatically puts the apparatus into a condition of readiness which may be indicated by a second signal, starting linethe signal is automatically changed to indicate non-availability to subsequent users. Preferably the coin device is so constructed that no further coin is accepted while the device is in use. 7

When the racer receives his time record after passage of the finish line, or otherwise receives an indication of elapsed time, the device is un-- blocked, and the signal at the starting station changes automatically to indicate availability: for use, whereafter the next user may insert his coin and repeat the same series of operations These and various other features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully from the detailed description which followsaccompanied by drawings showing, for the purpose of illustration, an application of the principles of the invention to a timing device for skiing races. The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combination of elementshaving a wider field of use.

Such features will hereinafter be set forth and claimed.

Although the characteristic features of the invention which are believed to be novel will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, its objects and ad vantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out may be better understood by referring to the following description in connection'with" the accompanying drawings forming a part of it in which:

Figure 1' is a diagrammatic illustration of the timing device; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the starting line station;

When the racer passes the Figure 3 is a perspective view of mechanism of the starting line station;

Figure 4 is a diagram showing the electric circuit;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of certain mechanism at the finish line station;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of certain-mechanism for printing the time record;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of further mechanism for printing the time record; and

Figure 8 shows a time ticket as issued by the finish line station.

In the following description and in the claims the various details will be identified by specific names for convenience. The names, however, are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit. Corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying, and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for the purpose of explanation of broader aspects of the invention, but it is understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad principles of the invention and that the invention may be applied to other structures than the ones shown.

As illustrated in Figure l the timing device comprises a starting line station II and a finish line station 12 are spaced along a race trail H3. The stations are connected by electric lines It]. and I5 for communication with each other. Each of the two stations are provided with a passage responsive means, which in the illustrated form of apparatus is a light weight bar or rod l6. The rod I3 is pivotally mounted at It and extends across the race trail. At the finish line where the racer travels at a considerable rate of speed, it is preferred to provide two light weight rods H and H" of the fishing rod type mounted at [9 and 19, so that they point at an angle of 45 degrees into and down the trail, their ends about inches apart. When the racer crosses the finish line either one or both of these rods are deflected to operate the finish line station.

Each of the stations consists essentially of a housing mounted on a pedestal. This arrangement is illustrated in Figure 2 showing the housing 20 of the starting line station mounted upon a post 2| vertically adjustable on a heavy pedestal 22 by a pin 23 for adjustment of the height of the swing rod l6 according'to the prevailing depth of the snow. The housing 20 is provided with a window 24 through which a signal 25 is visible. A coin slide 26 projects from the housing when the device is not in use. The slide may be depressed into a position in which its coin receiving aperture 21 is covered to prevent further insertion of coins during the period of nonavailability of the timing device, that is during the period of use by a racer who is on the trail and has not yet received his time record.

The construction and operation of the mechanism of the timing device will become apparent from the perspective illustrations, Figures 3, 5 and 6 taken together with the wiring diagram of Figure 4.

Referring first to Figure 3 the coin slide 26 is biased by a spring 28 towards its projecting position in which a coin may be inserted into the receiving aperture 21. A feeler lever 29 pivoted at 30 rests against the top surface of the slide and engages the aperture 2'! in the event no coin has been inserted, thus preventing a slide 26 from reaching a position in which the timing mechanism becomes operative.

If a coin has been inserted, the slide 26 may be depressed to its full extent by the user, and the feeler lever 29 passes over the coin without arresting the slide. The slide 26 is finally locked in its fully depressed position. For this purpose the slide is equipped with an angular arm 3| having a transverse portion 32 and a longitudinal portion 33. The transverse portion 32 is engaged by a rocking arm 34 pivoted at 35 and is biased in a counter-clockwise sense by a spring 35. The rocking arm 34 has a notch 31 in its lower edge. The transverse portion 32 of the arm 3| enters this notch when the slide 25 is fully depressed and the rocking arm, under action of its spring, 36 catches and detains the slide 26.

Substantially simultaneously the coin aperture 21 moves beyond the inner edge of a coin supporting ledge 38 causing the coin to drop inside the housing 20 into a suitable receptacle (not shown). The longitudinal portion 33 of the arm 3| engages and closes a pair of make contacts 39. Closing of the contacts 39 places the device into a condition of readiness, as will become apparent hereinafter.

The transverse portion 32 of the arm 3| further engages a depending arm 46 of the signal assembly 25 pivoted at 4!. Movement of the coin slide 25 into its depressed position causes the signal assembly to turn until the readiness or Go signal appears at the window 24.

The racer now starts on the trail and at the moment of passing of the starting line strikes the swing bar I6. The swing bar is normally held in a position at right angles with respect to the trail by a biasing spring 42. Deflection of the swing bar [5 about its pivot results in actuation of mechanical as well as electrical components of the device as follows:

A cam member 43 is fixedly mounted on the pivot shaft 44 of the swing bar and actuates a movable center contact 45 of a make-break contact assembly 45. The contact assembly 46 includes a make contact arm 41 and a break contact arm 48. Downward deflection of the center contact 45 causes the contacts 45, 48 to be broken and the contacts 45, 41 to be closed. Closing of the contacts 45, 4'! starts a clock at the finish line station as will be described in greater detail further below.

The deflection of the swing bar It; by the racer causes a change in the signal at the starting station. For this purpose the pivot shaft 44 is provided with an arm 49 which strikes the depending arm 40 of the signal assembly 25 and causes it to be moved into a position slightly beyond the In use position indicating non-availability of the device. The arm 49 further engages a depending arm 50 of a bell crank assembly 5| pivoted at 52. The bell crank assembly is biased towards its rest position by reason of its own weight tending to turn the assembly in a clock-wise sense. The bell crank assembly includes a further hammer arm 53 carrying a detaining pin 54. In its deflected position indicated in broken lines in Figure 3 the hammer arm moves beyond the end of an armature 55 of a solenoid 56, the solenoid armature being biased in a counter-clockwise sense by a spring 51. A stop 58 limits the movement of the armature 55 under action of the spring 51.

As the hammer arm 53 moves past the armature 55, the armature is deflected temporarily butimmediately returns to its rest position thus arresting the hammer arm of the bell crank assembly 5'! in its raised position. In this position the detaining pin 54 moves into the path of a corresponding projection 59 on the signal assembly arresting the signal assembly in the In use! position indicating nonavailability of the timing device.

Referring now to Figure 4 it will be seen that the closing of the contact 39 by depression of the coin slide prepares a circuit from a battery 63' through leads 6|, make-contact 39, break contacts 4 5, 48, and lead 62 to the winding of a solenoid 56-. A lead 63 extends from the solenoid winding to the armature 64 of a relay 65. The armature 64, however, is in dropped condi tion and a make-contact 54, 58 is open. A further lead 61 extends from the contact 55 back to the battery. No current flows, since the solenoid 53 is still de-energized by reason of the open relaycontacts 54, 66. The relay 65, on the other hand, is still de-energized because of the open make-contacts 45, 47, the energizing circuit for the; relay being as follows: From the battery 60 through lead BI, closed make-contact 39, open make-contacts 45, 47, lead 88, and line I5 to the relay winding, and thence through line I4 and a further lead 59 back to the battery.

Actuation of the make-break-contact assembly 46 causes the relay 65 to become energized by reason of closing of the make-contacts 45, 41. The relay pulls up its armature and closes con tacts 64 and 86 leading to the solenoid 56. Simultaneously, however, the contacts 45 and 48 arebroken so that the solenoid will not pull up its armature 55 and not release the hammer arm 53:, resting thereon.

The-lines I4 and I5 extend to the finish line station which includes a further relay H3 lying parallel to relay 65. The relay 'lll therefore pulls up its armature II and closes a make-contact ll, 12. Current nowilows from a battery I3 at the finish line station through relay contacts I2, 'II, lead 14 to the winding of a solenoid I5 and thence through a lead I6 through break-contacts 71', "I8- and a return lead I9 back to the battery. The solenoid I5 pulls up its armature 3i] and, as will later beexplained in greater detail, starts the clock.

As soon as the rod I3 returns to its normal position across the trail, contacts 45, 41 are broken and contacts 45, 48 are closed preparing an energizing circuit for solenoid 5'6 as follows: From battery 60 through lead fiI to coin slide contact 39, lead 45, contacts 45, 48, lead 62, solenoid 56-, lead 63, relay contacts e4, 55, lead 6?, back to battery 60. The solenoid I5 at the finish line station is de-energized by the breaking of contacts 45, 4! and of relay contacts II, 72 and the armature 80 returns to its normal rest position under action of a biasing spring 83.

Referring now to Figure 5 illustrating certain portions of the mechanism of the finish line station, a clock work is enclosed within a housing 84 mounted on a base plate 85. The clock work is of the spring-motor type and drives a shaft 86 carrying a disc 81 having raised indicia 83 on its top surface. The disc 8'! is mounted in a way to permit slight tilting of the disc periphery with respect to the shaft 88 for reasons which will hereinafter become apparent. The shaft 86 is arrested in the starting position of the clock by an arm 89. One end of the arm is secured to the shaft 86 and the other end rests against a projection 30 on a double armed lever 9| pivoted at 92. The double armed lever 9| has a heavy arm 93 and a light arm 94 giving the lever 93 an inherent bias in a clock-wise sense. The end of the heavy arm 93 is normally engaged by the armature 8B of the solenoid F5. As hereinbefore explained the solenoid i5 pulls up itsv armature when the racer passes the starting line, thus causing the lever 9| to drop and release. the arrestin arm 89 of the clock. The clock thereupon starts to run and rotates the disc 87.

The arm 93 drops upon a pair of make contacts I32 andjupon a release arm I43 on a release 1ever I4i rotating the release lever I M in a counterclock-wise direction. Closing of the contacts I32 prepares an energizing circut for the printing mechanism as follows: from the battery 73 through contact I 32, lead I33, contact I34, lead I35, solenoid i365, lead I31, back to battery 13.

The release lever I4i is pivoted at m3 and is urged; by a spring I43 against a stop pin I44. In the position in which the release lever rests against the stop pin I44, it engages a lock pin 42:01.1 the arm ltdand prevents the arm I36 from moving. Rotation of the release lever I 4| causes the lock pin I42 to be freed thus permitting a ticket to be issued andthe apparatus to be reset, aswill be described further-below.

When the racer passes the finish line he strikes and deflects the rods I'i, 2". The rods are both mounted ina way suitable for actuating theprintin mechanism. Various forms of mount- 1 ings serve this purpose, a specific form being illustrated in the drawings. I

The rod I I issecured to a shaft mounted for both pivotal and axial movement in a bush ing IS. The shaftfifi is constrained by a spring efi towards a position in which the rod I reatends into the trail path. The spring Stis attached to the end of a pin 9? engaging the sloping top; surface of the bushing I9 causing the shaft $5 to rise with respectto the bushing when therod li' lS deflected. n V

Thetop end of the shaft engages a pair. of make contacts I3 5, thus closi -g a circuit from battery-l3, through contacts 13 lead 533, contacts; I34, I341, lead I35, solenoid 933, lead I31, back to battery it. The solenoidISfijs energized and pulls up its armature I38 which hits the angular extension 559 of an arm I53. I I

A hammer 38 is mounted on a lever I59 having an angular end I5I. The lever I55 is under tension of a spring I 36 and is pivoted at I53. The other end I54 of the lever i53 is detained by acatch assembly !55. This catch assembly I55 consists of a catch it! pivoted at I55 and is biased by a spring I57-towards a pin I64. The catch assembly includes the angular arm !58 extending into the pathway of the armature I38- of the solenoid 635. When the armature I38 strikes the arm IE8 at 559, the end I54 of the lever I5! is released and a hammer 98 loaded by a spring It!) strikes the underside of the clock disc and forces it towards a platen 95 Record blanks I33 are fed from a magazine or roll I!!! along the underside of the platen 99. The disc 8! of the time clock is arrested by the hammer 93 which causes an impression to be made on the blank Hi3, at the moment the racer passes the finish line. Thus a permanent record is made of the time elapsed between the start of the race and passage of the finish line. The printed record is then dispensed to the racer who for this purpose act iates a dispensing and resetting mechanism which will now be described.

An actuating lever I82 projects from the housing of the finish line station and carries a knob Hi3. The lever I92 forms a part of a bell crank assembly I95 secured to a lever shaft I65. The bell crank assembly includes a further arm I98 to which a cord Illl is attached at I08. The cord IIl'l runs over a pulley I09 and is trained around a clock winding disc Hi). The disc H is loosely mounted on a winding stem I II which serves to rewind the clockwork and to reset the clock disc 81. The rewinding disc III) is connected to the winding stem II I through a spring I I2 which takes up the slack of the cord I81 and also permits the disc 8'! to turn when the arm I06 and cord Iill are in the position shown in Figure 5.

When the actuating lever M32 is pulled down the arm Iilli moves in a counter-clock-wise sense and the cord It? is unreeled from the winding disc I It) until the spring H2 tightens whereafter the clockwork is rewound and the disc 81 is reset towards and beyond its zero position for a reason which will presently appear.

Actuation of the lever I52 causes a stub arm I55 on the lever shaft I to strike the angular end IiiI of the lever I55 thereby tilting the lever I50 in a clockwise sense, tensioning the spring I68 and re-engaging the arm I54 with the catch assembly.

Simultaneously a further arm H3 on the bell crank assembly I04 strikes the light arm 9 of the double armed lever 9| and the latter is turned in a counter-clockwise sense about its pivot 92 until the end of the arm 93 is arrested by the armature 80 of the solenoid T5 in the position shown in Figure 5.

When the arm 93 rises to the illustrated position the clock disc 81 has been reset sufiiciently to bring the arm 89 of the clock a substantial distance beyond the projection 96. This brings the arm 89 of the clock beyond a cam surface H4 on the movable contact spring I8. As soon as the actuating lever I52 is released the clock starts running and its arm 89 moves towards the stop 90 where it is arrested. On its way the arm 89 strikes the cam H4 and causes the contacts i1, "I8 to be broken and the contacts I8, BI to be closed momentarily.

Closing of the contacts 18, 8| causes both relays 65 and 16 to pull up their armatures as current flows from battery 13 through lines I4 and I5. Actuation of the relay "ID at the finish line station, however, does not cause the solenoid I5 of the finish line station to be energized since the contacts 'I'I, I8 are broken. Therefore the solenoid armature 8% remains at rest and the clock is arrested in its zero position.

At the starting line station, however, the solenoid 55 is energized by the relay 65 which pulls up its armature 64 thus establishing a path from the battery to the solenoid as follows: From the battery Gil through leads 61, relay contacts 5%, M lead 63 to the solenoid 55, and then through leads 62, contacts 48, 45 lead 45, coin slide contacts 39, and lead BI back to the battery 60. This causes the starting station to be unblocked in a manner which will presently be described after brief consideration of a further mechanical operation taking place at the finish line station.

It was described that upon passage by the racer of the finish line a time record is printed. The printed record blank lies underneath the platen 99. Actuation of the lever I02 by the racer also operates a mechanism for feeding the 8 time records in step-by-step fashion for dispensing the last printed blank to the racer.

As the arm I55 rises it strikes the horizontal arm i I5 of a lever H6 pivoted at H1. The lever H8 swings about its pivot H1 in a clock-wise sense and causes a second lever H8 also pivoted at H! to move in the same direction through a coupling spring I I5 connecting the two levers I I6 and H8. The lever H8 actuates a blank transport of conventional construction which comprises a carriage I28 slidable on a guideway I2I through which the blanks are fed. The carriage is biased towards its end position by a biasing spring I22. The carriage IZIl carries two upright pins I23 and I24 between which the end of the lever H8 moves. The unmarked blanks are connected along interrupted cut lines I26 to permit convenient separation. Each blank has a hole I22? adapted to be engaged by a resilient feed finger I28 on the carriage I25. The finger I28 normally engages the hole in one of the blanks and upon actuation of the carriage I20 by the lever H8 pushes the strip of blanks towards the platen 99, the length of the stroke of the carriage iZfi being equal to the length of one blank. When. the actuating lever IE2 is released the carriage I29 is pulled back to its end position by its spring iii During this movement the feed finger I28 rises slightly and slides over the blank next to the one previously engaged until its end drops into the next hole. The carriage I20 then comes to rest against a stop EZQ secured to the guideway I2 I. The finish line station is now restored to its initial condition and is ready for re-use.

In describing the operation of the relays and the solenoids caused by resetting the finish line station, it was mentioned that the solenoid 55 at the starting line station also is energized causing it to pull up its armature 55 (Figure 3). This causes the hammer arm 53 to drop and strike a pin 53 on the end of the rocking arm 34. This causes the arm 3 to turn clock-wisely against the action of its biasing spring 36 whereby the coin slide 26 is released. The biasing spring 28 of the coin slide pulls the slide to its projecting position in which it is shown in Figure 3. Simultaneously the longitudinal portion 33 of the angular arm SI disengages from the contacts 39 thereby cutting off the battery 58.

Dropping of the hammer arm 53 releases the indicator by disengagement of the locking elements as. 59 and the indicator returns to its initial position in which the signal Insert coin appears at the window. The apparatus is now in condition for re-use by the next racer.

A printed record blank is shown in Figure I, The record bears a time marking I330. The marking is read at a reference line I3I which is printed on all record blanks. Minute and second readings appear on concentric circles. The record shown in Figure '7 indicates a race time of zero minutes 42.8 seconds.

The invention thus provides a simple, reliable and relatively inexpensive timing mechanism which can be used by untrained persons without the assistance of a skilled operator. The apparatus ingeniously prevents improper use or double use by the blocking arrangement which effectively blocks the starting line station against reuse during the period a racer is on the trail and until time the racer has obtained a reading or a printed record of his time. A particular feature of the invention is that the racer is compelled to reset and unblock the timing system in order to obtainan indication or permanentrecord of his race time.

The device is relatively small and compact, and

can easily be installed along permanent or temporary race/trails. It'can readily be moved. to

What is claimed is:

1. In a 1 timing. device for -,measuring ,time

elapsed between the passage by a racer of a starting line station and his-passage of a finisnline station, the device including first passage responsive means at the starting line station, second passage responsive meansatthefinish linestation, an electric circuit connecting the two stations, a clock-startable by said first passage-reuSPOIlSiVQ means, and means associated with {the -clock'and actuable-by said second passagere- --sponsive means for providing-an--indication of elapsed time, the improvement which-comprises an'element operable by the racer 'for rendering the-device operative,- said element beingseparate and apart from said first passage responsive means and located at the starting line'station and-being movable from an inactive rest-position into'an activeposition; -means-for locking said element-in its active position after actuation by a racer; means located at the finish line station ion-unlockin saidelement, said unlocking means bein coupled with the means for indicating elapsed time; and switch means in said circuitfor closing and opening said circuit, said switch:

means being operable by said element.

7 2. In atiming device for measuring time elapsed between the passage by a racer of a starting line station and his passage of a finish line station,

the device including first passage responsive means at the starting line station, second passage responsive means at the-finish line station, an

electric circuit connecting the two stations, a

-. clockstartable by said first passage responsive -means, and means associated with the clock and actuable by said second passage responsive means i for providing an indication. of elapsed time, the

improvement which comprises an element operable by the racer for rendering the device operative, said element being separate and-apart from i said first passage responsive means, and located at the starting line station and being movable from an inactive rest position into an active position; means for locking said element in its active position after actuation by a racer; means located at the finish line station for unlockingsaid element, said unlocking means being coupled with the means for indicating elapsed time; indicating means at the starting line station for indicating conditions of availability for use, andnonavailabilityfor use of the device, said last named indicating means being operatively connected with said element and switch means in said circuit for closing and opening said circuit, said switch means being operable bysaid element.

-3. In a'timing device for measuring time elapsed between the passage by a racer of a starting line station andihis passage of a finished line station,

:the device including first. passage, responsive means at the starting line station, second passage responsivemeans at, the finish line station, an electric circuit connecting the 'two stations, a clock startable by saidsfirst passage responsive *meansgand means-associated with the clock.'and actuable by saidsecond passage responsive means forproviding an indication of elapsed time, the

improvement which comprises a coin operable slide actuable by the racer for rendering the .device operative, the slide being located at the starting line station and being movable from an inactive projecting rest position into a depressed active position; means for locking saidslide in its, depressed position; means for biasing said slide towards its projecting positiomand means located at the finish line station for unlocking :said slide, said unlocking means being coupled with the means for indicating elapsed time.

4. In a timing device. for measuring time elapsed between'the passage by a racer of a starting line station and his passage of a finish line station, the device including first passage responsive means at the starting line station, secondpassage responsive means at the finish line station, an electric circuit connectin the two stations, a clock startable by said first passage responsive means, and means associated with the clock and actuable by said secondpassage responsive means for proposition; means for biasing said slide towards its projecting position; means located at the finish linestation for unlocking said slide, said unlocking means being coupled with the means for indicating elapsed time; and indicating means at the a starting line station for indicating conditions of availability for use, and nonavailability for use of the device, said last named indicating means being operatively connected with said element.

5. A timing device for measuring time elapsed 1 between the passage by a racer of a starting line and his passage of a finish line, the device comprising a starting line station, a finish line station 7 and an electric circuit connecting the two stations, the starting line station including a; first passage responsive means responsive to the passage by the racer of the starting line, a coin operable element actuable by the racer for rendering the device operative, said coin operable element being movable from an inactive rest position into an active position; means for biasing said element towards its rest position, and means for locking said element in its active position; said finish line station including a second passage responsive means responsive to the passage by the racer of the finish line, a clock actuable by said first passage responsive means through said circuit, means associated with said clock and actuable by said second passage responsive means for providing an indication of elapsed time, and means for unlocking through said circuit said element at ,the starting station, said unlocking means beingoperatively connected with the elapsed time indicating means.

6. A timingdevice for measuring. time elapsed between the passage by a racer of a starting line and his passage of a finish line, the device comprising a starting line station, a finish line station and an electric circuit connecting .the two stations, the starting line station including a, first passage responsive means'responsive to the passage by the racer of the starting line, a coin operable element actuable by the racer for rendering the device operative, said coin operable #element being movable from an inactive rest position into an-activeposition; means for biasing said element towards its rest position, means for locking said element in its active position, and indicating means for indicating availability and nonavailability for use of the starting line station, said indicating means being operatively connected with said element; said finish line station including a second passage responsive means responsive to the passage by the racer of the finish line, a clock actuable by said first passage responsive means through said circuit, means associated with said clock and actuable by said second passage responsive means for providing an indication of elapsed time, and means for unlocking through said circuit said element at the starting station, said unlocking means being operatively connected with the elapsed time indicating means.

7. A timing device for measuringtime elapsed between the passage by a racer of a starting line and his passage of a finish line, the device comprising a starting line station, a finish line station and an electric circuit connecting the two stations, the starting line station including a first passage responsive means responsive to the passage by the racer of the starting line, a coin operable slide actuable by the racer for rendering the device operative, said slide being movable from an inactive projecting rest position into a depressed active position, a spring for biasing said slide towards its projecting position, means for locking said slide in its active position, and indicating means jointly operable by said slide and said first passage responsive means for indicating conditions of availability for use when the slide is in its projecting position, readiness for use when the slide is in depressed position prior to actuation of said first passage responsive means and nonavailability for use after actuation of said first passage responsive means; said finish line station including a second passage responsive means responsive to the passage by the racer of the finish line, a clock actuable by said first passage responsive means through said circuit, means associated with said clock and actuable by said second passage responsive means for providing an indication of elapsed time, and means for unlooking through said circuit said slide at the starting station, said unlocking means being operatively connected with the elapsed time indicating means.

8. A timing device for measuring time elapsed between the passage by a racer of a starting line and his passage of a finish line, the device comprising a starting line station, a finish line station and an electric circuit connecting the two stations, the starting line'station including a first passage responsive means responsive to the passage by the racer of the starting line, a coin operable element actuable by the racer for rendering the device operative, said coin operable element being movable from an inactive rest position into an active position; means for biasing said element towards its rest position, and means for locking said element in its active position; said finish lin station including a second passage responsive means responsive to the passage by the racer of the finish line, a clock actuable by said first passage responsive means through said circuit, printing means associated with said clock and actuable by said second passage responsive means for providing a printed record of elapsed time, and means for unlocking through said circuit said element at the starting station said unlocking means being operativeiy connected with the elapsed time indicating means.

9. A timing device for measuring time elapsed between the passage by a racer of a starting line and his passage of a finish line, the device comprising a starting line station, a finish line station and an electric circuit connecting the two stations, the starting line station including a first passage responsive means responsive to the passage by the racer of the starting line, a coin operable element actuable by the racer for rendering the device operative, said coin operable element being movable from an inactive rest position into an active position; means for biasing said element towards its rest position; means for locking said element in its active position, and indicating means for indicating availability and nonavailability for use of the starting line station, said indicating means being operatively connected with said element; said finish line station including a second passage responsive means responsive to the passage by the racer of the finish line, a clock actuable by said first passage responsive means through said circuit, a supply of time record blanks, means associated with said clock and actuable by said second passage responsive means for printing on a blank a record of elapsed time, manually operable means for tion and an electric circuit connecting the two stations, the starting line station including a first passage responsive means responsive to the passage by the racer of the starting line, a coin operable slide actuable by the racer for rendering the device operative, said slide being movable from an inactive projecting rest position into a depressed active position, a spring for biasing said slide towards its projecting position, means for locking said slide in its active position, and indicating means jointly operable by said slide and said first passage responsive means for indicating conditions of availability for use when the slide is in its projecting position, readiness for use when the slide is in depressed position prior to actuation of said first passage responsive means and nonavailability for use after actuation of said first passage responsive means; said finish line station including a second passage responsive means responsive to the passage by the racer of the finish line, a clock actuable by said first passage responsive means through said circuit, a supply of time record blanks, means associated with said clock and actuable by said second passage responsive means for printing on a blank a record or" elapsed time, and a manually operable means for dispensing a printed time record, said manually operable dispensing means being connected with said clock for resetting it and being connected through said circuit with said locking means to release said locking means.

WALTER. RATH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,091,357 Goldsmith Aug. 31, 1937 2,361,826 Dowden Oct. 31, 1944 

